The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1887-04-28
PROGRESSIVE FARMER, APRIL 5283,118877,>

ferent light, and elected one of it's
number. When it is remembered
that, inthe Farmers Convention which
was calledab by the Board on the 18th
of January last, a resolution was in
troduced to abolish the Department,
excepting only the Experiment Sta.
ton, and which was m~anifestly in &C
cord with the views of a large mum
Der of those present; when it is re-
membered that the Board Of Agricu-
tufeii fnot its commissioner, for his
name was not m%entiened) was most
severely criticized in its own conven-
tion-when it is remembered that the
large convention Of farmers which met
in this city on the 10Th of January,
filed its implied protest against the
Department, by calling on the 'legisla-
ture to re-organize it, the public was
not prepared to learn that on the as
sembling Of the Board on the Goth
inst, a maoraty Of the Board o0as
pledged to support Mr.. Robinson. .
We believe it was a grave mistake
to elect any member Of the Board,
and especially will public sentime It
condemn" that action when it Was
brought about by ~electioneering me-
thtods, and the members tied their
own hands by pledges in advance.
We will not enter into details at
present, but we desire in the most en-
phatic manner to enter u earnest
protest against establishing a precedent
in this, the farmers Department, which
is, so utterly at variance with public
sentiment and which, o or later,
must paralyze it's usefulness, if it does
not absolutely destroy it.
The farmers of this State are dis
gusted with "rings"-they will not toll
crate, in the management of their
Department, anything that bears the
semblance of a ring.
These views were entertained and
boldly expressed by members of the
Board, but are fortunately they were
in a minority.
Before the election was had, Mr..
Leazer Of Iredell, introduced the fol
lowing: 81
Resolved, "That it is the sense of
this Board that it would be improper
to elect or appoint its own members to
Offices under its patronage, when the
services of other citizens of equal quail
ifcations can be secured.
Mr.. Wharton offered the following
amendment: CATER the word that
insert, 'as a general rule"
Messrs. Leazer, Williams and Grant
supported the original resolution and
opposed the amendment in strong
speeches. They were opposed by
Messrs. Robinson, Green and Smith,
when the vote was taken on the amend
ment as follows:
Ayes-Messrs Wharton, Green,
Murrow, Robinson and Smith.
Nays-Messrs. Brooks, Grant, Lea
Ear and Williams, and the amendment
was adopted.
The resolution as amended was
then adopted by the following vote:
Ayes-Green, Murrow, Robinson,
Wharton and Williams.
Nays-Brooks, Grant, Leazer and
Smith.
Mr.. Leazer presented in writing his
reasons for opposing the amendment,
and also for opposing the resolution
after it was amended, as follows:
"Leazar votes mo- to the amend
ment, because it destroys the fxity of
the improperly of electing our officers
from our own number, and if adopted
leaves the Board without any r~estric-
tons in the matter. He votes mo- to
the resolution as amended, because it
is thus entirely without force or eff
feet"
F Mr.. Grant asked permission to sign
this pa with Mr.. Leazer, and it
was granted.
In the election for Commissioner,
the vote stood as follows:
For Robinson-Brooks Green, Muir
row, Smith and WHARTON
For CIV. Sanderlin-Grant, Leazer,
= Mr.. Blanton, of the 9Th district, Vas
not. in attendance, and Gov. Scales was
kept away by sickness.
.THr PRonREssTvE FARMER sincerely